Nemo Astro Insulated Lite 20R Review

May 2, 2016

GEAR INSTITUTE RATINGS

87

Comfort

7

Weight

5

Warmth

8

Durability

8

Ease of Use

9

The Good

Firm lateral baffles

Packs small

Built in pillow

The Bad

Heavy

No lateral support

THE VERDICT

Nemo Astro Insulated 20R performs well as a durable and comfortable sleeping pad for side sleepers. The Nemo pad excels in comfort, offering a firm sleeping surface. However, it is limited by its weight, as it is the heaviest of all ultralight pads in its category.

FULL REVIEW

ComfortBoth the pad and the built in pillow blew up to be firm and comfortable. The lateral baffles on the Astro proved to be extremely comfortable for a side sleeper, as the pad doesn’t cave in around your body. The fabric is polyester, which adds to the softness of the synthetic material.

WeightAt 19.3oz on our scale, the Astro is the heaviest sleeping pad in this test category, but compressed down at a comparative size to the others reviewed in the group.

WarmthNemo does not list a R Value, rather a temperature rating of 15 to 25F. The firm shape of the mat keeps your body well off the ground, which significantly adds to the warmth. The Astro uses Primaloft synthetic insulation.

DurabilityThe 20D Polyester ripstop proved to be durable on all surfaces and the polyester added a softness to the material. Note: The D, standing for Denier, essentially means the weight of the fabric (or thickness of thread used). The polyester material means it is more fire retardant.

Ease of UseThe Nemo Astro has a twist-and-pull toggle for inflating, which was easy to use when inflating and deflating. Considering the three-inch height of the mat, it filled within a matter of minutes. When deflating, the mat easily lost air and fit back into its original stuff sack.